ABSTRACT :
The purpose of this paper is to give a general
overview of how to read a transistor specification.
We will discuss bipolar transistors, power MOSFETs
and IGBTs, and introduce some intelligent power
circuits that resemble discrete transistors. The
emphasis is on switching transistors. Rules of thumb
often followed in the selection of the right transistor
are discussed. Some common pitfalls are mentioned
and the reader is advised as to which parameters
are more important.